Mario Biondi
From the very first notes, the groove and sensuality of the charismatic Sicilian singer's voice recall the great interpreters of soul and rhythm and blues music.
Born Mario Ranno in 1971 in Catania, Sicily, he developed his passion for music since childhood by listening to his father, the singer Stefano Biondi, before taking his name to pay homage to him. Passionate about soul music, the Japanese release of his single "This Is What You Are" marked a turning point, after a meeting with the famous BBC1 DJ Norman Jay, who launched it on European radios. In 2006, the crooner released his first album “Handful of Soul”, recorded with the High Five Quintet. After a double album with the Duke Orchestra entitled "I Love You More" and "If", which climbed the charts and became triple platinum, Mario travelled thousands of kilometres with his 15-person orchestra for a sold-out tour. The albums and prestigious collaborations followed one after the other, and success was worldwide for the singer who performed his first concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 2013, and appeared at the most prestigious European and Italian jazz festivals. With “Best of Soul” released in 2016, Mario Biondi celebrated his 10 years in the business in a powerful tribute to this musical genre. Mario uses his distinctive voice, with its deep and carrying notes, to honour the Italian singer-songwriters of the 1960s but also those of Brazilian bossa nova who have always inspired him. His new album “Crooning Undercover” and his international tour will reach the milestone of more than 100 concerts across Italy and in 22 other countries around the world, between 2023 and 2024.
Stella Cole
A viral phenomenon on social media, the American jazz singer is reinventing the hits of the greatest female crooners in the tradition of Judy Garland and Barbara Streisand.
With her endearing personality and her precise and captivating voice, Stella Cole has the incredible ability to share the treasures of the "Great American Songbook" with fans of all ages. Born in 1997, the singer grew up in a small town in the American Midwest Enchanted by musicals like "The Wizard of Oz" or "Singing in the Rain", she became known by sharing her vocal performances on social media, particularly Tik Tok. Living in New York, in 2024 she recorded her first album thanks to her fans' support, on which she performs a collection of classics, most of which with an orchestra, to arrangements by Alan Broadbent (multiple Grammy Award winner) and with the participation of sound engineer, Chris Allen, and the producer Matt Pierson. Covering the greatest hits by Barbara Streisand ("When the Sun Comes Out"), Judy Garland ("The Boy Next Door"), Audrey Hepburn ("Moon River" of course!) and Billie Eilish ("My Future"), the American artist transcends the generations. Her performances have such presence because she draws from herself what resonates with these timeless stories. Her extraordinary vocal control and the richness of her tone make her one of the greatest performers of the repertoire.
